Chapter 160: Guidance

Mu Hua said, “I heard from elder brothers that most disciples would attend unless they were on missions or in closed-door cultivation. Lou Ri City’s isolation makes such events particularly appealing to its people.”

The geographical environment shaped Lou Ri City’s conservative lifestyle, resulting in simpler-minded disciples less adaptable to worldly matters compared to outside cultivators.

Cheng Lingyu remarked calmly, “This also offers a chance to assess each branch’s true strength. I suspect some are hiding their elite disciples from public view.”

“Those must be exceptional talents. Ordinary disciples wouldn’t warrant such secrecy.”

As they conversed, the pair entered Liyun Palace.

“How are your preparations, Elder Brother Mu?”

“Minor improvements. Progress slows drastically upon reaching the Blood Martial Realm—each breakthrough grows more arduous.”

Cheng Lingyu smiled faintly, suppressing his aura as he dispersed his true essence. Standing in the grand hall, he became ethereal as a wisp of wind.

Shock flashed across Mu Hua’s face while Cheng Lingyu fell into deep contemplation.

Having rarely shed his true essence since advancing, Cheng Lingyu now discovered his consciousness remained acute despite the dispersion—an impossibility for ordinary cultivators, whose awareness depended entirely on physical true essence.

This revelation struck him only after reaching the cave heaven stage: his consciousness and true essence functioned as separate systems, defying conventional cultivation principles.

“Cheng junior apprentice, you…”

Mu Hua’s voice trembled with awe.

Cheng Lingyu’s smile bloomed like spring sunshine. “I sense profound truths between motion and stillness. What are your thoughts, Elder Brother Mu?”

Mu Hua hesitated. “The great Dao encompasses countless mysteries—yin-yang, life-death, illusion-reality, motion-stillness. Have you truly grasped these principles so young?”

“Not grasped—merely glimpsed. As a Blood Weapon Second Level cultivator, you must be versed in engraved formations?”

Mu Hua scratched his head sheepishly. “I neglected such studies earlier. Now I struggle with basics.”

“Take this manual on engraved formations. Perhaps it’ll help.”

Cheng Lingyu produced a weathered booklet.

“Five Great Storm Kills! This Divine Martial Sect treasure—how did you obtain it?!”

“Ask no questions.” Cheng Lingyu waved dismissively. “I’ll rest now.”

Retreating to his designated space in Liyun Palace, he cultivated amidst its rich spiritual energy—inferior to the Supreme Spirit Palace yet still potent.

Channeling the technique of origins, he refined his accumulated techniques and ultimate skills. Many—Soft Silk Technique, Crimson Sun Slash, Mirage Blade Slash, Soul Severing Technique—had reached their limits as his cultivation level progressed, leaving no room for further improvement.

The techniques of Origins, Burning Heaven Method, Magic Eyes, Thousand Layers of Snow, and Heavenly Spirit Diagram required continuous cultivation, forming the foundation of Cheng Lingyu’s path.

After meditating quietly for an hour, Cheng Lingyu sorted through his knowledge, gaining clearer insight into his current capabilities. He still possessed ample resources, but what he lacked most wasn’t techniques or ultimate skills—it was time and experience. Given three years, he believed even without learning Lou Ri City’s methods, he wouldn’t lag behind his peers.

At noon, an elder brother from Liyun Palace collected the participant list from Fallen God Ridge’s Middle and Lower Four Palaces, preparing to deliver it to Feixing Ridge. Mu Hua learned twelve disciples from Fallen God Ridge would compete, including himself and Cheng Lingyu. All were new recruits with strong cultivation levels, though Cheng Lingyu ranked lowest among them.

That afternoon, Lou Ri City’s branches sent disciples to Feixing Ridge to report participant numbers and strengths. Over three hundred disciples joined—mostly newcomers, with a few veterans. The event would split into Soul Martial Realm and Blood Martial Realm stages, beginning with third-stage Soul Martial competitors. Feixing Ridge finalized the first-round matchups based on cultivation levels. Branches from Western Fallen Nine Ridges dispersed to prepare after receiving the lists.

Rumors claimed the city lord himself would attend, boosting Feixing Ridge’s morale and prompting lavish rewards. Meanwhile, Cheng Lingyu remained in Liyun Palace, mentally simulating his skills. In his sea of consciousness, the “Heavenly Passage” mark above the mysterious grass glowed brilliantly—far beyond his current comprehension. At Rising Moon Gate, he’d used the River Galaxy Gathering Bowl to fuse Thousand Moons in the Sky into the Thousand Moon Slash, a mark now resting in his three-layered ten-Yuan Dan pyramid. This too eluded his grasp, though his mastery of the Heavenly Spirit Diagram deepened.

At dusk, Cheng Lingyu consulted Mu Hua about the next day’s arrangements. Fallen God Ridge’s participants would gather at the Lower Four Palaces’ Third Palace at dawn, led by Liyun Palace’s master Zhang Chengtian. Only Middle and Lower Four Palace disciples competed, though Upper Four Palace members would spectate.

Returning to Supreme Spirit Palace that night, Cheng Lingyu found elder brother Wan Fang waiting. “Elder brother, are you waiting for me?”

Wan Fang beckoned him closer. “Feixing Ridge’s friendly match starts tomorrow. Any thoughts?”

“Do you care that much about this?”

“Not deeply. But this is Lou Ri City’s first event after recruiting disciples. Many will watch… and your cultivation’s still low.”

“Should I stand out or stay hidden?”

Wan Fang chuckled. “Temper your presence. You’re steady for your age, but experience can’t be rushed.”

Nodding, Cheng Lingyu accepted the advice. Wan Fang added, “Your aura draws attention. Learn to control it.”

“How?”

“Start with your eyes—they’re too striking. Suppress your true essence and calm your sea of consciousness.”

Cheng Lingyu dispersed his true essence and stilled his mind. His once-mesmerizing eyes dulled to ordinary.

“Better,” Wan Fang approved.

“I’d only focused on hiding my essence before. Thank you.”

“Guidance spares you mistakes. Consider this: Lou Ri City stays isolated yet ranks among Three Saints and Four Peerless. Why?”

The question lingered. Cheng Lingyu had never pondered it during his month here.

“Why?”

Wan Fang grinned mysteriously. “After sunset comes night.” Before Cheng Lingyu could question further, his elder brother vanished.

At dawn, Cheng Lingyu donned plainer attire. Wan Fang waited outside, and they joined Zhang Chengtian at Liyun Palace.

Mu Hua blinked at Cheng Lingyu. “You’ve changed overnight—from mysterious to mundane.”

“This feels truer,” Cheng Lingyu shrugged.

Shaking his head, Mu Hua led him toward Fallen God’s Tenth Palace. Participants and spectators traveled separately to Feixing Ridge.

There, Cheng Lingyu encountered Fang Ruohua. “Senior Brother Cheng! You’re competing too?”

“Indeed. Your cultivation’s advanced, Junior Sister.” When they’d met at Fallen God Seventh Palace, she’d been at Soul Martial’s fourth-layer cave heaven stage. Now she’d reached fifth-layer Shadow Transformation.

“You’ve improved as well,” she countered. Her fitted attire accentuated a blade-sharp aura, eyes gleaming with dangerous allure.